Reduce / Reuse / Recycle

December 22, 2006

 

Waste Fire Extinguishers to Be Recycled Nationwide in Japan

Keywords: Manufacturing industry Reduce / Reuse / Recycle 

Three Japanese fire extinguisher manufacturers announced on September 4, 2006 that they will each launch recycling systems for waste fire extinguishers later this year, now that they have been certified (September 1) under the Environment Ministry's certification system for industrial waste recyclers operating in multiple regions in Japan. Hatsuta Seisakusho Co., Yamato Protec Corp. and Morita Corp. together supply about 70 percent of the fire extinguisher market in Japan. The names of their recycling systems are Hatsuta Eco-Cycle System, YP Recycling Net, and Circle Morita Eco, respectively.

The disposal of old fire extinguishers, particularly their pressure containers, seen as difficult, a perception that has hindered their collection. The new certification now allows the companies to efficiently collect and recycle them nationwide.

Morita Corp., for instance, will operate its recycling system using a national network of about 1,000 affiliated shops registered by the company. Collected fire extinguishers are dismantled into components, container parts recycled into raw materials, while the extinguishing agent is reused in extinguishers or as ingredients in fertilizers.

By recycling old fire extinguishing agent that in the past was simply disposed as waste, Morita Corp. has increased the recycling rate from 37 percent to 97 percent of waste extinguishers in weight. Aware that nitrogen and phosphorus are main components of extinguishing agent, the company conducted research on their use in fertilizer and developed a fertilizer named "MORITA 1 GOU," which is now commercially available.

http://www.hatsuta.info/main/english/index.html
http://www.morita119.com/en/index.html

Posted: 2006/12/22 11:32:38 AM
Japanese version

 

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